Judy Reynolds Wins 2014 Irish Dressage Championship

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2014 Irish Dressage Championships

German based Irish WEG team rider Judy Reynolds wielded the axe of power at the 2014 Irish Dressage Championships held at the Cavan equestrian centre on 5 - 7 September 2014. Reynolds dominated the small tour aboard the Dutch bred Zigal and she reigned supreme in the big tour with the KWPN branded Vancouver K.

Riding her first Irish Grand Prix level championships, Reynolds has contested the lower levels before in Ireland but last competed at the Nationals eight years ago. "I decided to make the trip back this year as I feel it is important for the people at home to be able to put a face to the name of both horse and rider that they only read about on Eurodressage," Reynolds explained. "Also, I think it's good for the International riders to make the effort and bring their top horses back as it inspires the younger riders. I would like to be able to return for the championships more frequently when my schedule allows! It turned out to be a great trip for both my horses."

Reynolds was on strong form in the small tour aboard her 10-year old Dutch warmblood Zigal. Previously known as Zizou la Haya, the bay gelding is by Future x Beethoven x Samber, and was acquired by Reynolds in 2012 after she sold her Grand Prix horse Remember to The Netherlands. At the 2014 Nationals Reynolds scored a hattrick with Zigal, winning the Prix St Georges with 67.500, the Intermediaire I with 70.592% and the PSG Kur to Music with 75.563%.

"For Zigal it was his first big trip and he learnt a lot, from traveling to being stabled at a show, a great test for his first CDI's," said Judy. "He also had never done a freestyle and I was very unsure how he would react as he is noise sensitive, but he took it all in is stride and won the prize for highest score over all of the freestyle classes."

Reynolds and Vancouver K The most important title earned that weekend, however, was the 2014 Irish Grand Prix Champion's title which she scored aboard her 2014 World Equestrian Games' ride Vancouver K, a 12-year old Dutch warmblood by Jazz x Ferro x Mozart. Reynolds won the Intermediaire II with 72.039%. The Grand Prix she won with 69.500% and in the kur she moved into the winner's circle with 74.813%. In each class she was almost a full five percent ahead of her competitors. The Irish Big tour championship was judged by Mark Rudock and Carole Thornton and only the Grand Prix class counted for the actual title.

"Vancouver got very overwhelmed by his experience at WEG and it was only when I arrived at the championships in Ireland that I realised how much it had affected him and knocked his confidence," Reynolds explained. "He was all of a sudden very insecure in himself but having three tests in a more relaxed environment was just what he needed. Each day he grew with confidence and on the final day I felt I had my normal JP back."

Photos © Prime Photography

Results - 2014 Irish Dressage Championships

Small Tour - Prix St Georges

1. Zigal - Judy Reynolds - 67.500
2. Blue Valentine - Josephine Delahoyde - 64.539
3. Troytin - Amanda Goldsbury - 63.553
4. Fanfarron - Courtney Stuart - 63.026
5. Bon Viveur - Katy Price - 62.632
6. Bannerman Breeze - Jo May - 62.237
7. Henri -Meriel Moore-Colyer - 62.039
8. Get-Set - Lucy Adams - 60.395
9. Winky Tinky GLN - Lucy Cusack - 60.000
10. Winnes Hit II - Elaine Potter - 59.539
11. Dark Site - Christiana Manoras - 54.276

Small Tour - Intermediaire I

1. Zigal - Judy Reynolds - 70.592
2. Troytin - Amanda Goldsbury - 68.092
3. Blue Valentine - Josephine Delahoyde - 66.053
4. Fanfarron - Courtney Stuart - 65.658
5. Henri - Meriel Moore-Colyer - 65.132
6. Bon Viveur - Katy Price - 65.132
7. Get-Set - Lucy Adams - 62.105
8. Dark Site - Christiana Manoras - 60.329

Small Tour - PSG Kur to Music

1. Zigal - Judy Reynolds - 75.563
2. Troytin - Amanda Goldsbury - 74.313
3. Blue Valentine - Josephine Delahoyde - 70.125
4. Dark Site - Christiana Manoras - 66.188
5. Henri - Meriel Moore-Colyer - 64.313
6. Fanfarron - Courtney Stuart - 62.875

Big Tour - Intermediaire II

1. Vancouver - Judy Reynolds - 72.039
2. Urbanus - Anne Marie Dunphy - 67.171
3. Ben Hymn - Lucy Adams - 65.987
4. Saint Emilion - Sandra Blake Farrell - 65.724
5. Doctor Zhivago - Vitaliy Halstyan - 61.513
Salancio - Marguerite McSweeney - RET

Big Tour - Grand Prix

1. Vancouver- Judy Reynolds - 69.500
2. Sydney - Dane Rawlins - 66.550
3. Saint Emilion - Sandra Blake Farrell - 65.550
4. Has to be Fun - Yvette Truesdale - 64.400
5. Ben Hymn - Lucy Adams - 63.900 40.50
6. Tonka Wakkan - Christiana Manoras - 62.800
7. Doctor Zhivago - Vitaliy Halstyan - 62.500
8. Urbanus - Anne Marie Dunphy - 60.250
9. Salancio - Marguerite McSweeney - 60.150

Grand Prix Kur to Music

1. Vancouver - Judy Reynolds - 74.813
2. Sydney - Dane Rawlins - 69.375
3. Has to be Fun - Yvette Truesdale - 66.313